Vacuum cleaner nozzle



J1me 1954- c. E. MEYERHOEFER 3,137,884

VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 12, 1963 FIG. 5.

INVENTOR. an E. ME ERHOEFER M June 1964 c. E. MEYERHOEFER 3,137,884

VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE Filed March 12, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CARL E, MEY'RHOEFER June 23, 1964- c. E. MEYERHOEFER 3,137,884

VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE iled MaIZh IZIHILIQGSQ VIII HIP ,HH 4lsifii-sheet 3 W Ml MW WI WV o m' o W o W 26 FIG. IO

INVENTOR. CHRL E. MEYERHOEFER June 1964 c. E. MEYERHOEFER 3,137,884

VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE Filed March 12, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN TOR. cml E. MEYERHOEFER zzam United States Patent 3,137,884 VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE Carl E. Meyerhoefer, Little Neck, N.Y., assignor to The Regina Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 264,530 6 Claims. (Cl. 15-339) This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner nozzle for cleaning rugs, carpets, floors and other surfaces and is specifically directed to means associated with such nozzle for providing adjustable, surface contacting, brushes and dry mops.

Heretofore some vacuum cleaner nozzles have had incorporated in them various means for dislodging dirt from the surfaces to be cleaned to promote removal by suction. When such means are fixed with relation to the nozzle opening, and therefore with respect to the rug or floor surface, their most efficient use cannot be consistently maintained. This is particularly so when a vacuum cleaner so equipped is used interchangeably over bare floors and over carpets and rugs of varying nap thicknesses.

In the present invention provision is made for removably mounting two cleaning aidsa brush for carpets and rugs and a dry mop for wood, tile, and other bare surfaces, within a vacuum cleaner nozzle. Additionally, each is adjustable with respect to the nozzle opening so that one or both may be so selectively adjusted by the operator with the turn of a single knob mounted on the nozzle, to bear as desired upon the surface to be cleaned.

The principal object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a novel and simple mechanism whereby a brush and a dry mop may be associated with a vacuum cleaner nozzle and be separately or in combination adjustable with respect to the nozzle opening.

A further object is to removably mount such brush and dry mop to facilitate their cleaning and replacement.

Another object is to provide operating means for such a mechanism whereby an unskilled person may readily adjust the positions of the brush and the dry mop.

Still another object is to provide indicating means that will at all times show the positions of the brush and dry mop.

Other objects will appear from the description of a specific embodiment of this invention which follows.

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a nozzle embodying this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the body portion of the nozzle;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the sole plate of the nozzle;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view on line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view on line 66 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view on line 7-7 FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary front elevational view partly broken away of the nozzle showing the mop mounting;

FIGURE 12 is a bottom view of the knob member.

FIGURE 13 is a side elevational view of the knob of FIGURE 12.

Referring to the drawings in which the same reference 3,137,884 Patented June 23, 1964 ii ce numeral refers to the same or a similar part, FIGURE 1 objects likely to be contacted by the nozzle.

Funnel like body 10 contains a conventional air passage 17 leading from an elongated rectangular opening in its underside to an opening in its rearwardly projecting portion which is adapted to receive the intake tube of a vacuum cleaner (not shown). Vertical holes 14 and 15 pass through body 10, and, as best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, lie outside of passage 17. Embossed in the top surface of body 10 is reference mark 16.

Sole plate 11 shown in FIGURE 3 is secured to and coextensive with the underside of body 10, admitting air into passage 17 of body 10 through elongated rectangular air inlet 18. Parallel with, longer than and along side of slotted opening 18 are openings which against the underside of body 10 form slots 19 and 20. Inwardly projecting ledges at the bottom of each slot form a niche at each end thereof within which are upwardly projecting studs 23.

Vertically slideable in slot 19 of plate 11 is downward opening channel shaped clip 21. Clip 21 is supported at each end and urged upward by coil spring 22 held in place by upwardly projecting stud 23. The brush shown in FIGURE 8 consists of bristles 24 secured in rigid brush back 25. Back 25 has a rounded top cross section which not only facilitates snap fitting it into clip 21 but permits a limited back and forth movement of the brush as it is drawn or pushed across the surface to be cleaned. When clip 21 and the brush are assembled between and with body 10 and plate 11 their relative positions will be as seen in FIGURES 4 and 9 when the brush is fully retracted.

Vertically slideable in slot 20 of plate 11 is downward opening channel shaped clip 26. Clip 26 is supported at each end and urged upward by coil spring 22 held in place by upwardly projecting stud 23. The mop 27 shown in FIGURE 10 consists of a strip of felt or similar cloth or other material and is held firmly in and by rigid mop back 28. Back 28 is held within clip 26 by friction fit engagement. When clip 26 and the mop are assembled between and with body 10 and plate 11, their relative positions will be as seen FIGURES 4 and 11 when the mop is fully retracted.

The position of the brush with respect to the floor surface contacting face of plate 11 is determined by two rods 29 which extend through holes 14. The fiat surfaced lower end of each rod bears upon clip 21 resisting the upward thrust of coil springs 22. The upper ends of the rods are tapered and bear against cammed bottom surfaces of knob 12.

The position of the mop with respect to the floor surface contacting face of plate 11 is determined by rod 30 which extends through hole 15. The flat surfaced lower end of rod 30 bears upon the clip 26 at its midpoint resisting the upward thrust of coil springs 22. The upper end of the rod is tapered and bears against a cammed bottom surface of knob 12.

Knob 12 with finger recesses 31 is rotatably secured to the top surface of body 10 by pivot 32.

Referring to FIGURES 12 and 13, knob 12 is provided with three downward facing cam surfaces on its underside that in cooperation with rods 29 and 30 vary the heights of the brush and the mop and limit the rotation of knob 12 to an arc of about Two identical cams 33 are shaped so that in acting upon rods 29 the height of the brush may be varied. A

shorter, third cam 34 acts on rod 30 to vary of the mop.

Spaced detents 35 lie in a plane at right angles to the axes of pivot 32, in advance of cam 34. Tapered end of rod 30 may be releaseably engaged therewith when knob 12 is rotated and in none of such engagements will the mop be extended from its retracted position. When however knob 12 is rotated further, rod 30 will, against the rise of cam 34 extend the mop and when the summit and detent 37 is reached, the mop will be fully extended as shown in outline in FIGURES 4 and 11.

While knob is thus rotated, rods 29 hearing on earns 33 will progressively extend the brush from its retracted position to its fully extended position as shown in outline in FIGURES 4 and 9. The engagement of rod 30 with detents 35 and 37 will releaseably hold knob 12 at such points in its arc of movement and thus similarly hold the brush. The spacing of detents 35 provides the desired brush operating heights for various rug pile depths. The first detent 35 is for a fully retracted brush and mop. This is recommended for high pile rugs. The second detent 35 extends the brush somewhat beyond the face of sole plate 11, while leaving the mop fully retracted. This position of the brush is recommended for a medium pile rug. The third detent 35 extends the brush fully still leaving the mop fully retracted. This brush position is recommended for a low pile rug. When detent 37 is engaged both brush and mop will be fully extended. This position of both is recommended for bare floors.

With this construction therefor, dial 13 may be suitably marked high, medium, low and bare floor, the first three indicating the brush position while the mop is fully retracted, the fourth position indicating that both brush and mop are fully extended. The dial and knob are indexed on the fixed reference mark 16 on body 10.

Different cam shapes and arrangements may be used to furnish various height adjustments of the brush and the mop, separately or in combination.

With the construction shown it enables any unskilled person to quickly adjust brush and mop for the demands of the surface to be cleaned. It also furnishes ready access to both brush and mop for easy removal and replacement.

It is obvious that many modifications may be made without departing from the scope of this invention and although but one embodiment has been illustrated and described it is not intended thereby to limit such scope.

What I claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner nozzle having an elongated rectangular air inlet; a vertical slot adjacent each side of such inlet; a downward extending brush mounted for limited vertical movement in one such slot upon a pair of coil springs adapted to urge the brush upward; a rigid member carrying a downward extending strip of cloth mounted for limited vertical movement in the other of such slots upon a pair of coil springs adapted to urge the member upward; a knob rotatably attached to the outer surface of the nozzle providing downwardly facing cam surfaces in spaced relation to the said slots; a rod extending through the nozzle with its inner end, bearing on the back of the brush and its outer end, tapered, and bearing against a knob cam surface; and a rod extending through the body portion with its inner end, bearing on the back of the rigid cloth carrying member and its outer end, tapered, and bearing against a knob cam surface.

2. A vacuum cleaner nozzle having an elongated rectangular inlet in its underside and an air passage extending through the body from such opening to an opening in its other side and comprising a vertical slotted opening adjacent each side of such rectangular inlet; a rigid backed brush slideably mounted in one such slot upon spring means adapted to urge the member upward; a rigid backed cloth member slidably mounted in the other of such slots upon spring means adapted to urge the member upward; a knob rotatably attached to the upper side of the nozzle the height providing downwardly facing cam surfaces in spaced relation to the said slots; a rod extending through the nozzle with its inner end, bearing on the back of the brush member and its outer end, tapered, and bearing against a knob cam surface; and a rod extending through the nozzle with its inner end, bearing on the back of the cloth member and its outer end, tapered, and bearing against a knob cam surface.

3. A vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising a body portion having an elongated rectangular opening in its underside and an air passage extending through the body from such opening to an opening in its other side; a sole plate secured over such opening and having an elongated rectangular air inlet connecting therewith; a vertical slotted opening adjacent each side of such inlet; a rigid member carrying a row of bristles extending downward, co-extensive with and slidably mounted in one such slot upon a pair of coil springs adapted to urge the rigid member upward; a rigid member carrying an elongated downward projecting strip of cloth, co-extensive with and slidably mounted in the other of such slots upon a pair of coil springs adapted to urge the rigid member upward; a knob rotatably attached to the upper side of the body portion providing downwardly facing cam surfaces in spaced relation to the said slots; a rod extending through the body portion and partially into the sole plate with its inner end, bearing on the back of the rigid bristle carrying member and its outer end, tapered, and bearing against a knob cam surface; and a rod extending through the body portion and partially into the sole plate with its inner end, bearing on the back of the rigid cloth carrying member and its outer end, tapered, and bearing against a knob cam surface.

4. A vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising a body portion having an elongated rectangular opening in its underside and an air passage extending through the body from such opening to an opening in its other side; a sole plate secured over such opening and having an elongated rectangular air inlet connecting therewith; an elongated opening with inward projecting ledges at each end at the bottom thereof, adjacent each side of such inlet, forming with the underside of the body portion a vertical slot having a niche at each end; a clip opening downward, co-extensive with and slidably mounted in each slot upon a pair of coil springs each of which is supported within such a niche and adapted to urge the clip upward; a rigid member carrying a row of downwardly extending bristles, detachably secured with limited movement about its longitudinal axis, within one of such clips; a rigid member carrying a downwardly extending elongated strip of cloth, detachably secured within the other of such clips; a knob rotatably attached to the upper side of the body portion providing downwardly facing cam surfaces in spaced relation to the said slots and having indicia on its upper surface; a rod extending through the body portion with its inner end, bearing on the back of the clip containing the rigid bristle carrying member and its outer end, tapered, and bearing against a knob cam surface; and a rod extending through the body portion with its inner end, bearing on the back of the clip containing the rigid cloth carrying member and its outer end, tapered, and bearing against a knob cam surface.

5. A vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising a body portion having an elongated rectangular opening in its underside and an air passage extending through the body from such opening to an opening in its other side; a sole plate secured over such opening and having an elongated rectangular air inlet connecting therewith; an elongated opening with inward projecting ledges at each end at the bottom thereof, adjacent each side of such inlet, forming with the underside of the body portion a vertical slot having a niche at each end; a clip opening downward, coextensive with and slidably mounted in each slot upon a pair of coil springs each of which is supported within such a niche and adapted to urge the clip upward; a rigid member carrying a row of downwardly extending bristles, de-

tachably secured with limited movement about its longitudinal axis, within one of such clips; a rigid member carrying a downwardly extending elongated strip of cloth, detachably secured within the other of such clips; a knob rotatably attached to the upper side of the body portion providing downwardly facing cam surfaces in spaced relation to the said slots and having indicia on its upper surface; a rod extending through the body portion with its inner end, bearing on the back of the rigid bristle carrying member against the urging of its spring mounting and its outer end, tapered, and bearing against a knob cam surface; a rod extending through the body portion with its inner end, bearing on the back of the rigid cloth carrying member against the urging of its spring mounting and its outer end, tapered, and bearing against a knob cam surface; and detent means on the knob cam surfaces engaging with the outer end of one of said rods for releasably retaining the same in a predetermined vertical position whereby all of said rods will be held in predetermined vertical positions.

6. A vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising a body portion having an elongated rectangular opening in its underside and an air passage extending through the body from such opening to an opening in its other side; a sole plate secured over such opening and having an elongated rectangular air inlet connecting therewith; an elongated opening with inward projecting ledges at each end at the bottom thereof, adjacent each side of such inlet, forming with the underside of the body portion a vertical slot having a niche at each end; a rigid member carrying a row of bristles exending downward, co-extensive with and slidably mounted in one such slot upon a pair of coil springs each of which is supported within such a niche and adapted to urge the rigid member upward; a rigid member carrying an elongated downward projecting strip of cloth, co-extensive with and slidably mounted in the other of such slots upon a pair of coil springs each of which is supported within such a niche and adapted to urge the rigid member upward; a knob rota-tably attached to the upper side of the body portion providing downwardly facing cam surfaces in spaced relation to the said slots; a rod extending through the body portion and partially into the sole plate with its inner end, bearing on the back of the rigid bristle carrying member and its outer end, tapered, and bearing against a knob cam surface; and a rod extending through the body portion and partially into the sole plate with its inner end, bearing on the back of the rigid cloth carrying member and its outer end, tapered, and bearing against a knob cam surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,620,506 Weiland Dec. 9, 1951 2,682,682 Lewyt et a1. July 6, 1954 2,822,565 Dow Feb. 11, 1958 2,948,014 Allen Aug. 9, 1960 

1. IN A VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE HAVING AN ELONGATED RECTANGULAR AIR INLET; A VERTICAL SLOT ADJACENT EACH SIDE OF SUCH INLET; A DOWNWARD EXTENDING BRUSH MOUNTED FOR LIMITED VERTICAL MOVEMENT IN ONE SUCH SLOT UPON A PAIR OF COIL SPRINGS ADAPTED TO URGE THE BRUSH UPWARD; A RIGID MEMBER CARRYING A DOWNWARD EXTENDING STRIP OF CLOTH MOUNTED FOR LIMITED VERTICAL MOVEMENT IN THE OTHER OF SUCH SLOTS UPON A PAIR OF COIL SPRINGS ADAPTED TO URGE THE MEMBER UPWARD; A KNOB ROTATABLY ATTACHED TO THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE NOZZLE PROVIDING DOWNWARDLY FACING CAM SURFACES IN SPACED RELATION TO THE SAID SLOTS; A ROD EXTENDING THROUGH THE NOZZLE WITH ITS INNER END, BEARING ON THE BACK OF THE BRUSH AND ITS OUTER END, TAPERED, AND BEARING AGAINST A KNOB CAM SURFACE; AND A ROD EXTENDING THROUGH THE BODY PORTION WITH ITS INNER END, BEARING ON THE BACK OF THE RIGID CLOTH CARRYING MEMBER AND ITS OUTER END, TAPERED, AND BEARING AGAINST A KNOB CAM SURFACE. 